How can a commercial driver be sued for causing a drunk driving accident in Yuma?

Yuma, AZ – Drivers of large semi trucks and other commercial vehicles need to obey the same laws as all other drivers, plus there are additional regulations that they must follow related to vehicle maintenance and working hours. When one of these drivers causes a collision while they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they can potentially be sued, although there are some differences between suing commercial drivers and standard drivers. Most of these differences focus on whether the employer will be liable for damage caused by the driver or not.

Attorneys near me are available to meet with those who need more information about lawsuits and related matters. 

Independent contractors

Some commercial drivers are not considered employees of any particular trucking company. In these cases, they may need to be sued in their individual capacity. As a practical matter, an individual driver who is sued will likely need to pay out through their liability coverage after an accident, as it is unlikely that they will have sufficient funds to pay the damages out of their own money. It is also possible that the driver will face criminal charges for driving under the influence and they may be convicted of a felony if people were injured or killed during the course of the crash.

Drivers who are employees

When a commercial driver is employed by a business that engages in shipping products, construction, transportation, or other activities the employer is generally attached as the defendant in the lawsuit as long as the driver was working at the time of the crash. This is because there are agency principles in tort law that make employers liable for the actions of workers who are engaged in their standard job duties in most cases. 

Damages in drunk driving accident lawsuits

Commercial drivers can be made to pay the victim of a drunk driving accident various types of compensation for their losses. In most cases, things like medical costs and lost income while the person recovers are the largest part of damages. However, there are also non-economic forms of compensation for pain and suffering, as well as additional costs for funeral and burial expenses if there is a wrongful death lawsuit. The trucker or their employer may be liable for very large amounts of compensation depending on the severity of the crash. 

Accident attorneys in Arizona

Schneider and Onofry is a firm that focuses on civil cases related to injuries and accidents in the Yuma area. Their attorneys can be consulted for more information about these processes and negligence cases.

USAttorneys.com contains listings of accident lawyers and other types of legal professionals throughout the country. They can be contacted at 800-672-3103

Firm contact info:

Schneider & Onofry, P.C.

207 W. 2nd St., Yuma AZ 85364

928-257-4887

soarizonalaw.com